Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Sydney Water blames food outlets for illegally adding to fatberg. But restaurants say ‘if it’s a problem, it’s their problem’

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:38 +0000

Huge spike in fats, oils and grease going to Malabar treatment plant follows 2017 changes to reporting regime and reduced inspections, critics say

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Why are British people so obsessed with bins? | Polly Hudson

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:36 +0000

Our nation’s fascination with rubbish knows no bounds – as was proved by one recent online debate

Toby Carvery owner faces eviction from north London site for felling ancient oak

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:25:15 +0000

Felling of 500-year-old oak has provoked fury from public and Enfield council, which leases land to Mitchells & Butlers

The restaurant chain Toby Carvery is facing eviction from one of its sites after taking a chainsaw to an ancient oak tree without the permission of its council landlord.

Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:00:53 +0000

Critics accuse leading firms of sabotaging climate action but say data increasingly being used to hold them to account

Just 32 fossil fuel companies were responsible for half the global carbon dioxide emissions driving the climate crisis in 2024, down from 36 a year earlier, a report has revealed.

Plantwatch: Neighbouring plants warn each other about incoming stress

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:00:52 +0000

A study of Arabidopsis thaliana plants found that plants growing together activated genes to protect themselves, while isolated plants did not

Plants growing close to each other can warn each other about stresses in their lives.

New poo balls on Sydney beaches after revelation of huge fatberg stuck in treatment plant

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:04:23 +0000

Exclusive: Sydney Water erects sign at Malabar beach near wastewater facility stating ‘do not touch any debris … we are cleaning the area’

Fatberg the size of four buses likely birthed poo balls that closed Sydney beaches

Judi Dench backs campaign to protect London’s green spaces from developers

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:01:46 +0000

Actor says it is ‘more important than ever’ to safeguard city’s parks as report finds more than 50 are at risk

Dame Judi Dench has called for greater protections for London’s parks and green spaces, as research finds more than 50 of the city’s parks are at risk from development.

No ban on gas boilers in UK warm homes plan but heat pumps get £2.7bn push

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:30:44 +0000

Government opts against phasing out new boilers by 2035 in effort to cut energy bills by as much as £1,000 a year

Analysis: Labour’s warm homes plan is all carrot and no stick for UK households

There will be no phaseout date for gas boilers in the government’s warm homes plan despite its pledge to wean the UK off fossil fuels, but billions of pounds will go towards heat pumps and insulation upgrades.

Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:03:46 +0000

Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt

The global attack on nature is threatening the UK’s national security, government intelligence chiefs have warned, as the increasingly likely collapse of vitally important natural systems would bring mass migration, food shortages and price rises, and global disorder.

Food supplies are particularly at risk since “without significant increases” the UK would be unable to compete with other nations for scarce resources, a report to ministers says.

Era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ is here, UN report says

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:37 +0000

Overuse and pollution must end urgently as no one knows when whole system might collapse, says expert

The world has entered an era of “global water bankruptcy” that is harming billions of people, a UN report has declared.

The overuse and pollution of water must be tackled urgently, the report’s lead author said, because no one knew when the whole system could collapse, with implications for peace and social cohesion.